Can puncturing and pouring spout



Oct. 3, 1961 F. H. LILJEMARK CAN PUNCTURING AND POURING sPoUT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 INVENTOR. FHA/vKHL/LJEMAAK .ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1961 Filed Jan. 28. 1959 F. H. LlLJl-:MARK 3,002,657 CAN PUNCTURING AND POURING sPouT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /2 /4- G/SJNI/ENTOR. FRANK H L /L JEMAHK A '7" TORNYS Frank `H. lLiljemark, -Minneapolis,

United States Patent O 3,002,657 CAN *PUNCTURINGAND POURIYG SPOUT Minn., assigner to PlewsfManui-'aeturing Co., Minneapolis, Minn.,` a corporation tif-Minnesota ".File'dJamlS, 1959, Ser. No. 789,655 f1 Claim. (CIAB- 819) My invention relates to improvements `incan puncturing and pouring spouts of the type utilized in` gasolineflling stations for the dispensing of oils, anti-freeze liquids and the like.

When devices ofthe type above describedare utilized in the dispensing of liquids from cans, there` is a` tendency toward leakage of some of the` liquid to the outside of the pouring spout duringtthe pouringor draining of the can. Also. later Awhen `the `can has been substantially emptied and has been set aside with spout still attaehedand` now -in an fupright.=position, 4there-is .a further tendency for `residual oil in the spout to findits way to the outside of the spout and -flow onto the top and sides ofthe can caus- 'ingdossA of this `otherwise salvageable oil, creating instead .an untidy mess.

`The primary object of my invention is the provision ofan adequateyieldable sealing element encompassing the can ypuncturing blade `immediately adjacent the inner end of the spout for efficiently receiving oil draining down the outside wall of the ,puncturing knife and directing same into .the interior of the spout whereby to maintain the exterior -of the spout in a relatively oil free condition at all times and simultaneously to effect a maximum salvage of oil or other .fluid being drained from such being broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View in vertical section, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding generally to FIG. l but showing the structure thereof inverted for the purpose of draining the contents of a can into a storage receptacle;

FIG. 4 is a view in top plan of the sealing element of my novel device;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan of the structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a View in side elevation;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in front elevation with some parts shown in section and some parts being broken away; and

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary view in side elevation taken generally on the line 10--10 of FIG. 9.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety the handle and pouring spout of my novel invention. Preferably and as shown, the handle-spout 1 is longitudinally arcuate in shape and is formed from a pair of mating sheet metal sections sealed together along longitudinal seams 2 to provide an upper longitudinally generally convex section 3 and a lower generally longitudinally concave section 4.

The outerdischarge end-of the handle-spout f1 is identified by the numeralS, whereas `the somewhat enlarged inner end of the spout 1 is identified by the numeral. Preferablyand as shown, the lower concave spoutrsectionA is formed to provide longitudinally spaced ribs`i,'7 and the upper convex spout section 3 with longitudinally spaced recesses 8, .which collectively facilitate grasping.

Adjacent the enlargedinner end `6 of the spoutl, the concave` section 4 thereof is formed `to provide an enlarged longitudinally extended guide tongue"9, which as shown in`FIGS..1 and 2 isadaptedto engage the outer cylindrical wall B of a can A, the flat top wall of the canA bead thereof is identified by the" letter D. A transversely arcuate shoulder 10 is formed atthe point `of junctureof the `spout section 3 with the guide tongue 9.

The convex upper spout section `3, adjacent the enlarged inner end 6 isf'formed to provide a relativelyat centering lip 11 which projects'- inwardly beyondtheplane of the shoulder `10 inlgenerally opposed relationship thereto. A

`An elongated puncturing knifeisiidentifed in its` entirety by the numerallZ and comprises a longitudinally extended wall portion13 in closely spaced relation tothe guide tongue `9- and laterally spaced blade-acting side flangesli. As shown,vthe puncturing knife 12 is crosssectionally U-shaped at its intermediate portion, the bladeacting side flanges `M .having Aa maximum depth adjacent theinner endjof thespout 1 wherein portionslS engage opposite sidesl of the .centering lipll. `Front the portions '15,.the side 'flanges 14 taper toward the guide tongue 9 whereby to define blade-acting edges 1.6 and a punctun'ng point, 1"7`in closely 4spaced relation to thereeend 18 of the guidetongue 9. As shown` particularly in FIGS.

.Z- and 3, the-sideflanges A14 of-the puncturing` knife 12 .ta erin the opposite direction from the centering porportion .of `the.1: uncturing..knife 12 is an elasticsealing element l21.pref.erably formed from suitable Vsynthetic .rubber so as to resist deterioration ,by lubricating oils,

Aanti-freeze solutions, arid the like. As shown, a radially relatively thick andlongitudinally deep portion 22 of the sealing element 2i, having a generally U-shaped configuration, is interposed between the puncturing knife 12 and the guide tongue 9, at least circumferentially spaced portions thereof being in engagement with the shoulder 16, as indicated at 23, see particularly FIG. 9. Also preferably and as shown, the U-shaped portion 22 of the seaiing element 21 is formed to provide longitudinally outwardly projecting fingers 24 at diametrically spaced points, one of each of said fingers projecting into the inner end of a recess 25 formed by the overlapping opposite longitudinal edges of the upper and lower spout sections 3, 4. In this manner, the opposite sides of the i sealing element 21 are maintained in sealing engagement with the side flanges 14 of the puncturing knife 12.

At this point, it is important to point out that the upper convex spout section 3 adjacent the enlarged inner end 6 ofthe spout 1 defines inner end portions 26 immediately adjacent said centering lip 11 and on opposite sides thereof which are generally normal to the centering lip 11 and one each of which overlies an opposite side flange 14 whereby to define abutments 27 which engage opposite side shoulder or seat portions 28 of mating contour therewith and formed in the sealing element 21. By this novel means, the sealing element 21 around the forward side portion thereof is adequately anchored against longitudinal movement away from the puncturing point 17 of the puncturing knife 12, this in spite of the fact that the bar-like opposite inner side portion 29 of said sealing element 21 is unopposed by any projecting portion of the spout wall 6 during application of the puncturing knife 12 to a can top wall C merely snugly overlies the centering lip 11 so as to be free for relative movement as required after engagement with a can top wall C and still maintain sealing engagement between the knife 12, the can top wall C and the engaged portions of the spout 1.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the sealing element 21 is formed to define a continuous planar surface 30 adapted to be disposed in face to face relationship to the flat top C of a can A when the puncturing knife 12 has been caused to penetrate said top for the purpose of dispensing the primary contents from the can, or of subsequently draining from said can the film of oil or the like which tends to cling to the walls thereof during such dispensing operation. With the novel construction above described, it will be obvious that oil running down the outer surface 31 of the puncturing knife 12 will inevitably be engaged and intercepted by the circumferentially extended planar surface 30 of the sealing element 21.

To assure a temporary retention of such oil, or other fluid, so as to guide same to the interior of the spout 1, I provide the sealing element 21 with an endless marginal flange 32 which, together with the planar surface 30 and the snugly encompassed sides of the puncturing knife 12 and the centering lip 11, forms a trough 33 which directs the flow of collected oil or the like through circumferentially spaced apertures 34 in said puncturing knife 12.

Preferably and as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7, the

sealing element 21 is formed to provide an arcuate recess 35 for the reception of the bead D of the can A when the puncturing knife 12 is inserted into the can, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sole function of this recess 3S is to permit closer spacing of the'planar surface 30 of the sealing element 21 with the flat top C of the can A -adjacent the opening 36 therein. Obviously the flexibility of the trough-forming marginal flange 32 permits collapsing thereof during can puncturing movements without impairing the efficiency thereof as a trough-forming wall thereafter. For purposes of rigidity, the guide tongue 9 is formed with a longitudinally extended rib 37, and therefore the sealing element 21 is formed with a mating boss 38.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that same may be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

WhatIclaim is:

In a device of the class described, an arcuate handle shaped spout the concave wall of which is formed at its inner end to provide an integral relatively wide longitudinally extended guide tongue adapted to engage the outer peripheral surface of a can, said tongue and spout at the point of juncture thereof defining a transversely arcuate shoulder, the convex wall of said spout projecting longitudinally inwardly beyond the plane of said shoulder and defining a relatively flat transversely extended centering lip, the longitudinally inner end portion of said convex wall on opposite sides of said centering lip defining arcuate abutments which extend between said centering lip and opposite ends of said arcuate shoulder, a cross sectionally arcuate puncturing knife having a longitudinally extended wall in closely spaced relation to said guide tongue and having blade acting side anges which are in engagement with and which taper from opposite sides of said centering lip toward said guide tongue and define a puncturing point adjacent the free end of said guide tongue, portions of said blade acting side iangesl underlying said arcuate abutments, an elastic sealing element snugly encompassing said knife adjacent the inner end of said spout and having longitudinally projecting anchoring fingers at diametrically spaced points thereon extending into sealing relationship with opposite inner end portions of said spout, and having opposite portions thereof in anchored mating engagement with said arcuate abutments for compression thereof between said blade acting flanges and said transversely arcuate shoulders around the forward side of said spout, the opposite inner side portion of said sealing element merely snugly engaging over the surface of said spout adjacent said centering lip, whereby said anchored forward portion of said sealing element is held against longitudinal movement relative to said knife and said opposite inner side portion of said element is free for such movement as is required when said knife is forced through a can top to maintain full sealing engagement therewith and, with the centering lip of said spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,978 Slining Dec. 2l, 1937 2,317,755 Gouch et al Apr. 27, 1943 2,421,589 Wiswell June 3, 1947 2,784,877 Robertson Mar. 12, 1957 

